Universal seat back cover



March 16, 1943.

J. M. KLINE UNIVERSAL SEAT BACK COVER Filed April 26,1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l L M fi k JOJEPH, MVFL'INE; 15v 2 2;; fi -z f. b

March 16, 1943. KLlNE UNIVERSAL SEAT BACK COVER Filed April 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO/P, JOSEPH M. KL/NE, Er

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March 16, 1943. J. M. KLINE UNIVERSAL SEAT BACK COVER Filed April26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO/P J0.5PH M. hL/NE,

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Patented Mar. 16, 1943 2,313,878 UNIVERSAL SEATBACK cover; Joseph M. Kline, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Gates Manufacturin Company, Indianapolis, Ind a corporation of Indiana Application April 26, 1941, Serial No. 390,594

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a seat cover and has for its primary object the provision of a structure which will allow the seat cover to fit an ex.- tremely wide range of variation in height, thickness and contour of seat backs so that the manufacture and the distributor of the covers may be relieved of the heretofore necessity of having to carry in stock a separate individual cover for each and every seat back varying one from another in small details. This object is accomplished in the present invention by a simple means of cutting and uniting the various members of the seat cover as will hereinafter appear more fully and as illustrated more or less diarammatically in one particular form in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front perspective of a seat back cover embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a rear view of the seat cover in perspective;

Fi 3, a View in perspective of the seat cover from the opposite end shown in Fig. 1, and on an enlarged scale; and

F g. 4, a plan .view-of the various panels entering into the cover but in disunited condition.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the various views in the drawings.

Referring first to Fig. .4, the main front panel In is formed out of any suitable material selected for the front facing, such as a rather coarsely woven, matting-like fabric. This panel is generally rectangular in shape, having a straight lower edge; the major length of the top edge being in a straight line with the end portions thereof curving downwardly slightly and the two vertical ends given a slightly outwardly directed direction from bottom to top. A lower hold-down panel H is formed out of a suitable fabric, preferably thinner and more flexible than that of the panel l0, and has its top edge out in a straight line to equal substantially the length of the under edge of the panel l so that these two edges may be united one over the other by suitable stitching. The ends of the securing panel H are preferably of the same color and texture as that used in the panel ll although, of course. not necessarily so. These two panels I3 and M are identical in shape and size, one being reversed in position in reference to the other. Panel I3, for example, is formed to have a slightly, almost imperceptible curving front edge A which has at least the same length as the vertical end edge B of the panel Ill, the curved edge A when sewed to the straight edge B tending to form a sl ghtly outwardly or forwardly bulging eifect in the panel Ill. The edge A is shown in Fig. 4 to be a trifle longer than the edge B of panel I 0 to provide for an overlapping hem with the end of the lower panel II. The upper edge of the panel [3 is sloped downwardly to conform to the end slope of the top edge of the panel H); the outer rear vertical edge C of the panel I3 is curved rearwardly slightly so as to give the panel a greater width through its central portions than at the top and bottom ends thereof; The lower edge of the panel [3 is curved upwardly sharply from the forward edge A and then continued outwardly to the edge C in a more or less straight horizontal line. The other end panel I4 is formed in the identical manner but in the reverse manner as above indicated. A top panel I5 is formed out of fabric of the same general type as that used in the side panels 13 and I4 although not necessarily so if a different color scheme particularly is desired. This top panel i5 is cut to have its major parts of the top and bottom edges in straight parallel lines. The under edge D is curved downwardly toward each end to have that lower edge Din substantial parallelism with the top edge E of the panel It and the top ends of the panels [3 and I4. These two edges D and E as well as thetop edges of the panels l3 and iii are overlapped and stitched together into permanent union. The panel I5 is that part which forms the top of the seat cover which turns around rearwardly over the top .of the seat back to which the cover is applied.

Back aprons it and IT made of any suitable each sloped inwardly from the top line andtermifabric such as that used in the panels I3 and I4 nate in the lower edge of the panel which i prefare formed to be identical in shape and size, each erably formed in a straight line. This lower being more or less triangular in shap Wi h an edge is turned back upwardly on the panel ll under edge F to be in alignment with the straight to form a hem wherein a plurality of separate edge portions of the lower edges of the panels l3 tubes or rods l2 may be inserted to form ribs to nd I4. The f rw d ed e G in each of the be pushed down between the back of the seatand the cushion of the seat in order to retain the lower edge of the finished cover in taut condition.

End panels l3 and I4 are formed out of fabric aprons l6 and i1 starts upwardly from the lower edge F and curves slightly around outwardly in opposition to the curvature of the panel edges C and continues curving outwardly thereabove to terminate in a point H. The outer top edge of The lower outer free ends of the aprons each of these aprons l6 and I1 slopes downwardly from the point H to give the triangular shape. The respective edges G of the panels l6 and ITI are secured by stitching to and along the edges C of the panels [3 and I4 respectively and are also likewise secured along the curved ends of the panel I5 where the points H of the panels l6 and I1 fall on points N, Fig. 4.

A rear cover apron i8 also made of some such fabric as that of the panels i3 and I4 is provided to have a horizontal length exceeding that of the panel It; substantially parallel vertical edges; a straight horizontal outward edge; and a top edge J, the central major length of which is a straight line, but the outer ends of which terminate in upwardly or forwardly curving directions but each with a greater radius of curvature than the curvature of the end portions of the edge K of the panel [5. The diagram of these various elements thus described and as shown in Fig. 4 represents substantially the relative shapes and positions of the elements as they are being brought together for attachment, one with another.

The edge J of the panel 58 is stitched to the panel l5 along its back edge whereby the forward corner L of the panel [8 in each instanceis located at some such point as M along the convex edge of the panel Hi to have the corner H of the aprons l6 and I! in each instance under the panel [8, to be located at the point N along the edge K. By reason of the difierence in curvature of the edges J and K, the panel I5 will have its central longitudinal part tended to be curved upwardly to approach in general the curvature of the top of the seat back to which the cover is to be applied. It is to be noted that the corners L of theback panel i8, when attached to the top panel l5, are in substantial alignment with the edges C of the end panels i3 and I4. Also it is to be noted that the top point H of each of the aprons I6 and I? are located inwardly of those edges C and substantially in alignment with the edges AB'of the panels i3 and i4 and l0.

lfi'and I! are provided with suitable intersecuring means, herein shown as a tape [9 secured to the apron l5 and tied together through a loop 25 carried by the apron i'l. By shortening or lengthening this tape [9 as between the two aprons, the back cover may be pulled around to bring the front face of the cover, that is the panel [El and also the end panels [3 and i4, into smooth conditions. Then the back panel I8 is pulled down over the ends of the aprons l6 and I1 and secured to the back of the seat by any suitable means, such as by pins or special tacks or nails that will engage the inner structure of the back securely, the exact shape of such securing means not, per se, entering into the present invention.

Now by reason of the peculiar and unique construction, particularly of the juncture of the end portions of the panel 18 and upper end portions of the aprons l6 and H with the top panel IS, the cover may be adjusted to fit snugly over a wide range of thicknesses, heights, and even differences in top contour of seat backs because the apron 16 may be pulled endwise and wrapped around behind the backs and also pulled downwardly to have the apron l8 come down smoothly and snugly thereover without any wrinkling over the corners of the back. In reference to Fig. 4, the finishing or binding tap 2|, shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 3, is not shown, but is, of course, em-

ployed to cover the seams, particularly those seams around the edges of the front panel H] where the coarser, heavier material is united with the lighter fabric.

While the invention has been shown in more or less minute detail in the one p a o m, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed, particularly in variations of materials, and means of anchoring the front and back panels H and i8, without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is therefore desired that the invention not be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

j I claim:

1. A cover for fitting a range in sizes and shapes of seat backs comprising in combination; a front major cover section, hold-down means extending downwardly from that section; said section having its upper marginal line sloped downwardly throughout the respective end portions thereof; a minor end panel attached to said, section along each of its vertical edges, each of said end panelshaving its top edge sloped downwardly and outwardly in continuation of the sloped top marginal line of said major section, and having substantially parallel vertical edges; a top section having a forward edge substantially of the same length as and secured along the combined lengths of the top edges of said united major section and said end panels, said forward edge being formed with a contour substantially the same as that of said combined lengths, and the rear edge of said top section being curved by its ends toward and substantially into its said forward edge; an apron substantially triangular in shape with a rearwardly curving vertical edge joinedalong the rear edge respectively of each of said panels, said apron edge continuing up and attached along the sloped ends of said top section in each instance and terminating in approximate vertical alignment with the side edges of said major section; means for drawing the free ends of said aprons one toward the other; and a back section having its upper edge formed with less degree of curvature toward'its respective ends than that of the rear edge of the top section and united with said top section along its rear edge, the horizontal length of the back section being such that the ends of its said upper edge are located in overlapping arrangement with the upper ends of said aprons.

2. A cover for fitting a range in sizes and shapes of seat backs comprising in combination; a front major cover section, hold-down means extending downwardly from that section; said section having its upper marginal line sloped downwardly throughout the respective, end portion thereof; a minor end panel attached to said section along each of its vertical edges, each of said end panels having its top edge sloped downwardly and outwardly in continuation of the sloped top marginal line of said major section, and having substantially parallel vertical edges; a top section having a forward edge substantially of the same length as and secured along the combined lengths of the top edges of said united major section and said end panels, said forward edge being formed with a contour substantially the same as that of said combined lengths, and the rear edge of said top section being curved by its ends toward and substantially into its said forward edge; an apron substantially triangular in shape with a rearwardly curving vertical edge joined along the rear edge respectively of each of said panels, said apron edge continuing up and attached along the sloped ends of said top section in each instance and terminating in approximate vertical alignment with the side edges of said major section; means for drawing the free ends of said aprons one toward the other; and a back section having its upper edge formed with located in overlapping arrangement with the upper ends of said aprons; the lower edges of said aprons being in a common horizontal line substantially in alignment with the lower edge of said major front section, and said back section having its lower edge normally at least as low as said apron lower edges.

3. A cover for fitting a range in sizes and shapes of seat backs comprising in combination; a front major cover section, hold-down means extending downwardly from that section; said section having its upper marginal line sloped downwardly throughout the respective end portions thereof; a minor end panel attached to said section along each of its vertical edges, each of said end panels having its top edge'sloped downwardly and outwardly in continuation of the sloped top marginal line of said major section,

and having substantially parallel vertical edges;

a top section having a forward edge substantially of the same length as and secured along the combined lengths of the top edges of said united major section and said end panels, said forward edge being formed with a contour substantially the same as that of said combined lengths, and the rear edge of said top section being curved by its ends toward and substantially into its said forward edge; an apron substantially triangular in shape with a rearwardly curving vertical edge joined along the rear edge respectively of each of said panels, said apron edge continuing up and attached along the sloped ends of said top section in each instance and terminating in approximate vertical alignment with the side edges of said major section; means for drawing the free ends of said aprons one toward the other; and a back section having its upper edge formed with less degree of curvature, toward its respective ends than that of the rear edge of the top section and united with said top section along its rear edge, the horizontal length of the back section being such that the ends of its said upper edge are located in overlapping arrangement with the upper ends of said aprons; said hold-down means consisting of a horizontal panel secured along the lower edge of said front section, having its side edges sloped downwardly and inwardly, and having a hem across its lower edge and hem bulging means carried within the hem.

JOSEPH M. KLINE. 

